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Rafael Nadal will likely meet Roger Federer or Novak Djokovic should be make the US Open final (Image: Getty)

Rafael Nadal's long-time rival is yet to drop a set at the US Open (Image: Getty)

Djokovic is close to his best level and Federer is still a candidate for the most important titles

Carlos Moya

"Djokovic is close to his best level and Federer is still a candidate for the most important titles," he said, when pressed for his tournament favourites.

"But both are on the other side of the draw."

Nadal's clash with Basilashvili is likely to have taken a lot out of him.

And Moya admits he has to remind the clay-court expert that he is not a youngster anymore.

Novak Djokovic is in sparkling form this summer (Image: Getty)

Rafael Nadal will meet Dominic Thiem in the last eight of the US Open (Image: Getty)

"I am trying to convince him in some things, not only me, but also the whole team," he said.

"He still believes to be 20 years old, he wants to play in every tournament and in any place, win at every tournament and be at 100 per cent of his abilities every day, and that's not possible at this stage of his career.

"We try to help him in any possible way, making him more aggressive and bringing some little changes to his game."

Nadal meets Thiem in the last eight this week, while Djokovic and Federer will take on Joao Sousa and John Millman respectively in the round of 16.